Wetenschap

Nature, Published online: 29 April 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01320-2

These highly sentient creatures have weak protections for their well-being. That must change.

Nature, Published online: 29 April 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01302-4

Just like vertebrates, cephalopods — such as octopuses and squid — have elaborate brains. Neuroscientists are flocking to them for insights into how intelligence evolved.

Nature, Published online: 28 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10559-8

Author Correction: Quantum error correction below the surface code threshold

Nature, Published online: 28 April 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01349-3

The equity paradox of environmental DNA for biodiversity monitoring

Nature, Published online: 28 April 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01368-0

To hire good scientists, look at their peer-reviewing records

A massive prehistoric snake discovered in India may rank among the largest ever to slither across Earth. Named Vasuki indicus, this ancient giant lived around 47 million years ago and is estimated to have stretched an astonishing 11 to 15 meters long—rivaling the legendary Titanoboa. Fossilized vertebrae unearthed from a lignite mine in Gujarat reveal a thick-bodied, powerful snake likely built for slow, stealthy ambush attacks, similar to modern anacondas.

A spectacular cosmic event nicknamed “SN Winny” could help solve one of astronomy’s biggest mysteries: how fast the universe is expanding. This rare superluminous supernova, located 10 billion light-years away, appears five times in the sky thanks to gravitational lensing, creating a dazzling “cosmic fireworks” effect. By measuring the slight delays between each appearance—caused by light taking different paths around two foreground galaxies—scientists can directly calculate the universe’s expansion rate.

Scientists have uncovered the true boundary of the Milky Way’s star-forming region using stellar “age mapping.” They found a telltale U-shaped pattern showing that star formation drops sharply around 35,000–40,000 light-years from the center. Beyond that, stars are mostly migrants, slowly drifting outward rather than forming in place. The discovery gives a long-sought answer to where our galaxy’s stellar nursery really ends.

A decades-old drug once used to treat sleeping sickness is now showing surprising promise against an ultra-rare and life-threatening genetic disorder called Bachmann-Bupp syndrome (BABS). Early patient treatments suggest the drug, DFMO, may ease severe symptoms by targeting the underlying genetic malfunction. Researchers have already treated a handful of patients with encouraging results, but progress has been slowed by regulatory and logistical hurdles.

A troubling new study from MIT reveals that a common environmental contaminant, NDMA—found in polluted water, certain medications, and even processed foods—may pose a far greater cancer risk to children than adults. In experiments with mice, young animals exposed to the chemical developed significantly more DNA damage and cancer, despite experiencing the same initial exposure as adults. The key difference lies in how rapidly children’s cells divide, which turns early DNA damage into dangerous mutations much more easily.

A new genus and species of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur related to South American forms has been described by a team of paleontologist led by University of Bath’s Dr. Nick Longrich.

The post Small Titanosaur Species from Morocco Reveals Surprising South American Ties appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

With more than 30 times deuterated water or semi-heavy water seen in solar system comets, 3I/ATLAS preserves evidence of radically different conditions in its birthplace billions of years ago.

The post Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Formed in Ultra-Cold Planetary System, ALMA Reveals appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

New fossils from the Namba Formation of South Australia reveal that 25 million years ago, Obdurodon insignis thrived in lush inland lakes alongside freshwater dolphins and other now-lost species.

The post Early Platypuses Had Strong Teeth and Powerful Jaws, Fossils Show appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

If you’ve ever wondered how geologists know so much about ancient beaches and shallow oceans, they owe it all to the sand particles bound together by microbes, forming structures known as microbial mats.

The post Why Geologists Love Pond Scum appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

New research suggests that infrasound -- very low-frequency sound below 20 Hz -- can increase cortisol levels and irritability, offering a scientific explanation for why some ‘haunted’ places feel unsettling.

The post Infrasound Can Subtly Raise Stress and Discomfort, New Study Finds appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

David Morens could face prison time for allegedly concealing back-channel efforts to help nonprofit accused of starting pandemic

Germany and Brazil reach agreement over controversial spinosaurid fossil, heralding new collaboration between the two nations

Hawking’s signature prediction may prevent vexing singularities from forming

Before antiretroviral drugs reached South Africa, high death toll shaped immune system genes

Dismissal of the National Science Board is widely seen as latest move to erase NSF’s independence

On Aug 11, 2025, a gunman who falsely believed that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were dangerous went on a shooting rampage at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) main campus, shattering 150 windows and tragically killing a 33-year-old CDC security officer. Staff, still reeling from firings and programmatic shifts that began with the new Trump administration, were deeply traumatised. 8 months later, the windows have not been repaired. The CDC was once the gold standard for public health leadership.

Despite substantial progress in malaria control over the past two decades, malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in young children.1 Achievement of malaria elimination will require complementary interventions that target different stages of the parasite lifecycle and can be implemented in different transmission settings.2 In addition to vector control, chemoprevention, and vaccination, monoclonal antibodies targeting parasite antigens have emerged as a promising strategy for malaria prevention.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has long remained at the margins of the evidence base for the cardiovascular benefits of blood-pressure lowering. The absolute risk of cardiovascular events in people with CKD is among the highest across major clinical populations.1 However, research into the cardiovascular benefits of blood-pressure lowering in this population has, for decades, relied largely on extrapolation, subgroup analyses, and secondary meta-analyses,2,3 rather than trials spanning multiple CKD stages with cardiovascular outcomes as primary endpoints.

A global tragedy is unfolding. Withdrawal of the US Government from the fight against HIV/AIDS is causing thousands of preventable infections and deaths worldwide. Over many decades, generous investments by the American people through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) brought hope and opportunity to communities affected by HIV. While multiple mathematical predictions of disaster have been published during the past year, few studies have examined the actual human consequences of America's retreat from global health.

The Tisza Party promises to increase investment, rejuvenate public health, and address staff dissatisfaction. Ed Holt reports.

Obesity might be to blame for part of the increase in cancer among young people, a study in the UK has found, but the causes largely remain a mystery

Millions of dollars are being spent on wagers predicting measles outbreaks in the US, which could help researchers modelling the spread of the disease

The idea that everything that exists can be built from the bottom up has long held sway among physicists. Now, a new kind of science is under construction that centres conscious experience – and might unravel the universe’s biggest mysteries

Robots can now run a half-marathon faster than humans and are rapidly homing in on the 100-metre sprint record. But why are companies so keen to create speedy robots that have no obvious application in homes or factories?

The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz has seen energy prices soar, but Alice Klein pays just A$25 (£13) a month for her electricity, even when charging an electric car or running an air conditioner.

Scientists have discovered how cells decide when to respond to physical forces, potentially opening new avenues for tackling diseases such as cancer and fibrosis.

Artificial intelligence is moving into one of the most intimate areas of human life: grief. Tools that can simulate a deceased person's voice, writing style, or conversational patterns are no longer science fiction. They are emerging products and technologies that promise comfort for some mourners while raising profound ethical, psychological, and cultural questions.

Europe endured a historic heatwave across Nordic countries, shrinking glaciers and record sea temperatures in 2025 as the fast-warming continent faces more frequent climate extremes, a new report showed Wednesday.

Researchers at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and the University of the Ryukyus have developed a new imaging method that makes it possible to see, in real time, how food is distributed and exchanged inside groups of ants. The work sheds light on how social insects organize themselves, and it could eventually help scientists detect early signs of disruption in insect communities that play essential roles in pollination, agriculture, and biodiversity.

The pace of tropical forest destruction slowed in 2025 after record losses the year before but remained at worrying levels equivalent to 11 football fields per minute, researchers said Wednesday.

Tiny crystals suggest extinct volcanoes could still grow underground, a finding that could reshape how scientists assess eruption risk.

The Nu ring seems to be fed by unknown rocky bodies, whereas the Mu ring appears rich in water ice and linked to the moon Mab.

Preeclampsia complicates 3 to 8 percent of pregnancies. In a recent trial, a blood filter lowered blood pressure and helped prolong some pregnancies.

James Webb data reveal pristine gas irradiated by energetic light some 450 million years after the Big Bang — a sign it may house primordial stars.

An analysis of ancient DNA and modern disease risk suggests some immune genes may reduce allergy risk rather than increase it.